Fish-trap.



Patented Sept. 4, |900. J. 0. sHARPLEss. FISH Tri-AP.

(Application filed Mar. 22, 1900./

Nn.v 657,460.

(No Modal.)

l Il |I Il l| l w/r/VESSES .I

UNITED STATES l 'PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN O. SHARPLESS, OF FAIRHAVEN, WASHINGTON.

FISH-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 657,460, dated September `4, 1900. Application iled March 22, 1900. Serial No. 9.767. Ylilo model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN O. SHARPLESS, a citizen of -the United States, and a resident of Fairhaven, in the county of Whatcom and State of Washington, have invented a new and Improved Fish-Trap, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relatesto a peculiarly-constructed floating fish-trap adapted to be set in a body of Water and furnished with a lead to cause the sh to enter the trap.

This specification is the disclosure of one form of my invention, while the claims define the actual scope thereof.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trapv with a part of thelead broken away. Fig.2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken throughthe trap, and

Fig. .tis a fragmentary perspective view showing the lead adjusted oppositely to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The trap comprises a pot or crib A, to the inner end of which is directly contiguous a heart B, the heart B in turn communicating with a hook C. From an opening in one Wall of the hook C extends the lead D.

The pot or crib A is constructed of a framl ing 10, on which is stretched the netting, which forms the bottom and sides of the pot or crib, the top thereof being open. The frame 10 is constructed of tubes joined to and communicating with each other and sealedto forma buoyant structure capable of iioating in the Water to sustain itself and the parts attached thereto. The corner-posts of the frame are extended up above the sides and ends thereof and above the Water-line, as shown, so that netting may be attached thereto to prevent the fish from jumping out of the pot. The upper ends of these corner-posts are open or may be provided with Stoppers for closing them, as desired. A pump may be provided for pumping water into and out of the tubes forming the frame 10, by which to ballast the frame and regulate the depth to which it isV `the pot and is fastened at its bottom and sides the heart B, as best `indicated in Fig. 3.

The outer inclosure or hook C is not provided With a rigid framing, such as the frame 10 of the body, but has its bottom 16 and its sides 17 formed of netting joined together as shown and sustained at the proper elevation in the Water by fioats 18` The inner portion of the bottom 16 of the hook C has an upwardly-inclined extension 16% which leads to the upper edge of the wall 14 and of which the apron 15 is a continuation, so that the ish entering the hook O are caused to swim up the extension 16a over the apron l5and into the heart B, from Which they pass through the tunnel 11 to the pot A, from which they maybe taken at leisure. One Wall of the hook C has a portion broken out directly adjacent to the side edge of the extension 16, as indicated at 19. Thisbroken-out portion extends from the adjacent edge of the extension 16a of the bottom 16 upward to the top of the hook C, the side portion of the hook below the extension 1G:L being left intact, as shown. To this broken-out portion 19 the lead D extends, the lead comprising a net 2O and iioats 21 at the top edge thereof. The upper portion of the inner end of the lead D is fastened to a part of the framing 22 of the hookY at the top edge thereof, so as to be capable of moving from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 4. The lower edge of the lead D at its inner end is fastened permanently to the hook C at the lower end of the extension 16?. Vhen the lead is disposed as shown in Fig. 1, the trap is set Afor fishing with a current moving in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 1, and when the lead D is disposed as in Fig. 4. the trap is set for fishing with the current moving in the direction of the arrow shownin ICO 2 esi/,46o

such ligure. In other words, it is assumed that the fish move with the current, and it will be seen that the trap may be changed as the tide changes, thus permitting the trap to be used at all times. In this connection it is explained that the ilead D is entirely ilexibleand may therefore accommodate itself Vto the movements described.

The main portion of the trap, comprising-4 the parts A, B, and C, is held in place by anchor-cables 23, attached in any suitable man-- ner, according to the conditions attending, the use ofthe trap. The lower edge of the lead D has a number of adjustable anchorcables 24 connected therewith, so that by Achan ging these cables'the lead may be heldf` lin the position *shown in Fig. l or in that shown in Fig. 4, according to the condition of the tides and currents. Assuming that the trap is set `as shown in Fig. l, the 1ish`` move in the direction of vthe karrow against the lead D, which it should be understood is extended out from the trap a distance sufficentto span the stream or other body ofi water in which the trap is set. Then the' fish are forced to pass through the opening u ssv 19 into the hook C and upon, finding themselves inclosed therein will swim up the in- Cline-16a and over the apron 15a. When this apron is passed, the fish Will naturally d'e-i scend to that depthof the Water which they* usually occupy, thus approaching the bottom ot the heart B. Then in endeavoring to find -an escape they will pass through the tunnel ll and rise to the surface of the waterfinthe i pot A,- where they will be eiiectually trapped. Having thus described `my invention, I, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl. A fish-trap having two compartments,

an inclined bottom leading from the bottom of one compartment to the upper portion of 4 the other, and an apron extending into said other compartment and forming anfexten-sion of the said inclined bottom.

2. A fish-trap, having a heart with an end l- ,wall extending upto near the top thereof, an

apron extending into the heart from the upper `edgeof said wall, a hook, and an inclined bottom on the same, the kbottom leading up to the upper ed ge of the said wall of the heart.

3. A- iish-trap, 'comprising a pot, a heart situated atv one` side thereof,a tunnel leading from the heartto the pot, an inner side wall for the heart, the wall extending up to near the top thereof, an apron extending inward from said wall, a hook orfouter inclosure ad- Ajacent to the-heart and having an inclined bottom leading up to the said apron, and a ,lead *extending tothe hook or outer inclosu re,

`to direct the fish'thereinto.

LLA fish-trap,havin g alead connected therewith, the upper portions of such connection being slidable, 'floats' connected with the upperedge of thelead, and means for anchoring the lower edges of the lead, such means being adjustable, for the purpose described.

5. A fish-trap, comprising a heart, a hook or outer inclosure contiguous thereto, a Wall .between-the heart and hook, the wall extending upward to near the top of the trap, an

"apron extending into the heart from the up- .per edgeof such Wall, and an inclined bottom `extending from the hook upwardly to the upper edge of the said wall.

6. A {ish-trap, havingl a lead fastened thereto'at the lower part of one end, the upper part of said end being slidably connected with the trap, so that the sidewise inclination ofthe lead may be varied for the purpose specified, and means for holding the lead in the desired l position.v

7. A fish-trap, having a framing comprising side and bottom walls formed of metallic pipes,-certain of which are openat their upper portions, and netting or the like carried on thevframe.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.,

' JOHN O. SHARPLESS.`

Witnesses:

B. W. BENSON, J. E. WALSH. 

